5 Online Dementia-Help Programs You Can Access From Home

Now more than ever, accessing helpful Dementia resources from home is essential. With an internet connection, computer, and proverbial click of a button, you can discover many free and low-cost tools.

We’ve rounded up our top five favorite Dementia help trainings and video libraries designed to inform and comfort people living with Dementia and their caregivers. Discover more about them below, including what you’ll learn, the cost (if any), and how to watch.

(1) UCLA Caregiver Training Videos

This online dementia help video library by UCLA is geared for caregivers of people living with dementia. It covers a range of helpful topics that can make it easier to respond to common behaviors and scenarios. Each video comes with a written narrative featuring expert explanations and recommended caregiver responses.

What you’ll learn: This comprehensive Dementia help video library walks you through everyday challenges for people living with Dementia, such as alcohol abuse, driving, lack of eating and paranoid thoughts. Additional caregiver video topics include:

·         Bathing

·         Depression and apathy

·         Hallucinations

·         Home safety

·         Sleep disturbances

·         Taking medications

·         Repetitive behaviors

Cost: Free

How to watch: Browse UCLA’s online video library and select your desired topic. Most videos are available with multi-language subtitles, and English and Spanish audio.

(2) Morningside Ministries Caregiver Training Videos

Morningside Ministries is a San Antonio-based non-profit senior care organization dedicated to “caring for those who cared for us.” They provide care for more than 800 residents in assisted living, memory care, rehabilitation, retirement, and skilled nursing care. 

They’ve produced over 300 caregiver training videos since 2007, demonstrating its commitment to deliver quality and consistent resources.

What you’ll learn: Morningside Ministries features an extensive Dementia help video library on various caregiving topics ranging from finding elder care and combatting loneliness to music therapy and the latest Alzheimer’s research. 

The video, "The Difference Between Dementias," is particularly beneficial to help caregivers understand the top four types of dementia.

Cost: Free

How to watch: Browse the Morningside Ministries video library to explore featured and other dementia help videos by topic.

(3) Living with Dementia Five-Week Online Course

Johns Hopkins School of Nursing offers a free, five-week online Dementia help course on living with Dementia. It’s geared for health professionals and students, people living with Dementia, friends and family caregivers, and others interested in Dementia and quality care.

The course’s goal is to explore the global challenge of living with Dementia for individuals, their families, communities, and society.

What you’ll learn: Each of the five weeks in the course syllabus includes video segments and structured exercises and activities covering:

·         Week 1: The Brain
·         Week 2: The Person
·         Week 3: The Home and Family Environment
·         Week 4: The Caregiving Community
·         Week 5: Social and Policy Changes

Cost: Free to people who want access to the materials without earning a certificate. The fee is $49 for those who would like to earn a certificate upon course completion.

How to watch: Learn more about the dementia help course on the Johns Hopkins School of Nursing website and enroll at Coursera.org to access the videos.

(4) The Dementia Action Plan Workshop

Presented by founder and nationally recognized spokesperson, Kevin Jameson, this approximately one-hour Dementia help video is a recorded live talk filmed with a studio audience at the Philadelphia PBS® station affiliate, WHYY-TV.

What you’ll learn: This engaging Dementia help seminar covers what to know when dealing with Dementia, including straightforward and empowering steps for navigating life as a caregiver or the person living with Dementia.

Cost: Normally a $9.95 mission-related donation, but please be our special guest and use promo code "FREE" to watch at no cost.

How to watch: Click here to access this on-demand Dementia care planning workshop or contact us to request a free DVD.

(5) Dementia Unplugged ™ Webinars

Dementia Unplugged is a monthly educational and conversational webinar developed in cooperation with Jeannine Forrest, Ph.D., R.N. 

It offers dementia help and support for caregivers of people living with Dementia.

What you’ll learn: Covering topics such as housing and living options, caregiver grief, meaningful activities in the home, agitation triggers, and responding to hallucinations and delusions, Dementia Unplugged is a well-rounded Dementia help forum where audience participation is encouraged.

Cost: Free

How to watch: Register to access the monthly sessions via Zoom on the first Mondays of every month at 10 am CST.

Beyond the Dementia help videos and trainings featured on this list, you can find dozens of helpful dementia videos available on our YouTube channel at no cost. We also, invite you to browse our extensive collection of media on our website, including feature films and documentaries for caregivers and people living with dementia to enjoy from the comfort and safety of your home.

Dementia Risk Factors: Alcohol

The health benefits that various foods and diets to improve overall health or lower risk for disease is a newsworthy topic. Some reporters state that eating fiber-rich fruits, vegetables, and whole grains helps us to maintain a healthy weight as well as may lower risk for colon cancer. Others assert the Mediterranean diet, one which encourages replacing red meat for fish and chicken, saturated fats with olive oil, and refined carbohydrates with whole grains, reduces the risk for heart disease, certain cancers, and diabetes.

Many research studies are touting the benefits of red wine on lowering cholesterol blood levels and thereby reducing the risk of heart disease, strokes, cataracts, and colon cancer. Though a controversial area of research, some studies indicate drinking moderate amounts of red wine may slow declines in brain function. 

With respect to consuming wine and other alcoholic beverages - moderation is the keyword. However, most people are unsure of how much is a moderate amount. According to the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, a low to moderate alcohol consumption is no more than one drink a day for women and older adults, and two for men. One drink is usually one 1/2 ounce or 15 grams of alcohol, which equals approximately 12 ounces of beer, 5 ounces of wine or 1.5 ounces of 80-proof liquor. (Note 1)  

These dietary guidelines refer to the amount consumed on any single day and not as an average over several days. In other words - do not save your daily allocation for a weekend binge.

Alcohol-related brain damage, (ARBD) conditions that include Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome  (WKS) and alcoholic Dementia is the result of drinking too much alcohol over several years. (Note 2) Though both types of ARBD exhibit Dementia-like symptoms, neither condition is true-Dementia. (Note 2) The difference between ARBD and a Dementia such as Alzheimer disease is in the ability to treat or stop the progression of symptoms.

Consuming more than the recommended amounts of alcohol does increase the likelihood of developing Alzheimer disease and vascular Dementia later in life. However, researchers have yet to establish the scientifically measurable relationship between alcohol consumption and risk for Dementia. The reasons are many and include research entirely dependent on reported observations and evaluating the variables that, in combination with alcohol consumption, affect the long-term risk for Dementia. 

However, one can state with certainty, the more you drink, the greater the likelihood of developing Dementia later in life. High alcohol consumption also increases the risk for stroke, heart and liver disease, and depression – all of which are well-known Dementia risk factors. 

Contributor: Janet Yagoda Shagam, Ph.D., is a freelance medical and science writer and the author of “An Unintended Journey: A Caregiver's Guide to Dementia.” Available through Amazon.

The opinions expressed by contributing authors are not necessarily the opinions of the Dementia Society, Inc. We do not endorse nor guarantee products, comments, suggestions, links, or other forms of the content contained within blog posts that have been provided to us with permission, or otherwise. Dementia Society does not provide medical advice. Please consult your doctor. www.DementiaSociety.org

 
Notes: 
1. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and U.S. Department of Agriculture. 2015 – 2020 Dietary Guidelines for Americans. 8th Edition, Washington, DC; 2015, http://health.gov/dietaryguidelines/2015/guidelines/
(accessed June 15, 2015).
2. What is Alcohol-related Brain Damage?, https://www.alzheimers.org.uk/site/scripts/documents_info.php?documentID=98 (accessed June 16, 2016).

Dementia is Person-Centered

This may surprise you, but it summarizes the impact Dementia may have on our families: we believe that more than 9 million Americans live with some form of Dementia today. Moreover, although the scientific community is attempting to shed additional light on the numbers, Alzheimer's-type Dementia alone is currently considered to represent more than half of the cases.* Even more shocking, according to the World Health Organization, when all forms of Dementia are combined, they are globally thought to be the 3rd leading cause of death, behind heart disease and stroke in high-income countries.*

Did you know? Dementia is not a disease. It is the umbrella term we apply to those cognitive diseases, e.g., Alzheimer’s, Vascular Dementia, Lewy Body, Frontotemporal and other conditions that can cause Dementia, which is the progressive loss of two or more basic brain functions and the accompanying activities of daily living. Yet, how you outwardly express Dementia is unique to you. People living with Dementia are still whole human beings and can experience joy, sadness, creative expression and much more.

Some would say that the number of deaths attributable to Dementia is significantly underreported due to the stigma associated with the various diseases, lack of education, or other coexisting health issues that can often occur at the end of your life. No matter what the numbers are, Dementia is costly in every way possible, both financially and emotionally.

Rich or poor, or somewhere in-between, you can die prematurely just because of Dementia. Alzheimer's disease, along with many other causes of progressive Dementia, cross cultural and socioeconomic divides. Today there are no cures or effective long-term treatments for almost all forms of Dementia.

However, you can get great satisfaction, and increased inner strength and sense of well-being in caring for someone living with Dementia, but it is still not easy. Even professional caregivers who are paid to give a helping hand, and assist those living with Dementia, experience occasional burnout. Person-centered care, and going further if possible to person-directed care, requires that we always treat individuals uniquely, with respect, and with dignity to the end of their lives. These are just a few of the keys to an optimal quality of life and the best possible tomorrows.

*Sources: see www.dementiasociety.org/home

The opinions expressed by contributing authors are not necessarily the opinions of the Dementia Society, Inc. We do not endorse or guarantee products, comments, suggestions, links, or other forms of the content contained within blog posts that have been provided to us with permission, or otherwise. Dementia Society does not provide medical advice. Please consult your doctor. www.DementiaSociety.org

Dementia Risk Factors: Blood Pressure

Blood pressure and health is a frequent topic of casual conversation between friends. However, many people are not aware of the relationship between blood pressure and risk for having Dementia later in life.

Blood pressure is a measure of the force blood exerts against the inner walls of the blood vessels and arteries as the heart pumps blood throughout the body. The first or higher number, the systolic pressure, determines the pressure in the arteries when the heart muscle contracts. A higher than normal pressure, one that is greater than 120, causes the heart to work harder and increases risk for heart attacks, and strokes.

The second number, the diastolic pressure, determines pressure in the arteries when the heart muscle relaxes between heartbeats. A lower than normal blood pressure is having a systolic pressure below 90 or a diastolic lower than 60. Most doctors consider chronically low blood pressure a problem only if it causes noticeable symptoms such as dizziness, fainting, or rapid and shallow breathing.

Some causes for too-high or too low-blood pressure are cardiovascular and neurological abnormalities present at birth and the side effects of certain medications.

Conditions and behaviors such as blood pressure, chronic kidney disease, heart disease, obesity, smoking and insufficient exercise are all causes for having high blood pressure.

Risk factors associated with having low blood pressure include advanced age, medications such as the alpha blockers used to treat high blood pressure, as well as having diseases such as diabetes, Parkinson disease, severe infections, and certain heart conditions.

High blood pressure, independent of its cause, increases risk of having Dementia. However, the good news is there are ways to decrease risk for Alzheimer disease and vascular dementia - the two most common types of Dementia. Some of these include reducing stress, eating a heart-healthy diet, getting regular exercise, and to stop smoking. It’s also important to follow your doctor’s instructions and take your blood pressure medication as prescribed.

Changing lifelong habits is often easier said than done. It’s difficult to reduce stress and to find the time to exercise when juggling the responsibilities of a tightly scheduled day. When eating out, or socializing with family, friends, and coworkers, it is a challenge to manage large portions and to choose foods that are low in saturated fats, salt, and added sugar.

Support groups as well as your friends and family can be your best allies in helping you to achieve a healthier lifestyle. However, be sure to tell your friends and family the reason for making these lifestyle changes is to reduce your risk for dementia. Maybe, just maybe, your explanation will be the motivation they need to make similar healthful changes. 

Contributor: Janet Yagoda Shagam, PhD, is a freelance medical and science writer and the author of “An Unintended Journey: A Caregiver's Guide to Dementia.”

The opinions expressed by contributing authors are not necessarily the opinions of the Dementia Society, Inc. We do not endorse nor guarantee products, comments, suggestions, links, or other forms of content contained within blog posts that have been provided to us with permission, or otherwise. Dementia Society does not provide medical advice. Please consult your doctor. www.DementiaSociety.org

Symptoms for Vascular Dementia can Vary Widely

Vascular Dementia may account for 12 to 20 percent of all Dementias, and is the second most common age-related Dementia.1 Unlike the gradual progression of Alzheimer's disease, the onset of Vascular Dementia symptoms is often abrupt and occurs when a heart attack or a stroke dramatically reduces blood flow to or through the brain. Hallucinations, rather than the memory loss associated with early-stage Alzheimer's disease, is another indicator of Vascular Dementia. 

Vascular Dementia can also have a slow progression. This happens when the accumulative damage of transient ischemic attacks – often called TIAs – cause many small areas of brain damage and, eventually, noticeable symptoms. The descriptive name “multi-infarct Dementia” is the term healthcare providers use to describe this kind of Vascular Dementia. Infarcts refer to the many (multiple) areas of non-functioning brain tissue that accumulate over time. Multi-infarct Dementia is the most common type of Vascular Dementia.1  

Depending on the location within the brain, multi-infarct Dementia produces a spectrum of physical, behavioral and emotional changes. An example of a physical change is shuffling or walking with small rapid steps. Behavioral symptoms can include slurred speech, getting lost in familiar surroundings, and difficulty in following instructions. Sometimes people cry or laugh at inappropriate times. 

As you can now appreciate, telling the difference between Alzheimer's disease and Vascular Dementia can be difficult. If the changes appear rapidly, Vascular Dementia, resulting from a stroke or heart attack, is the likely culprit. To make things even more complicated, many people have both Alzheimer's disease and Vascular Dementia.

There several ways you can reduce risk for Vascular Dementia. Some of these include: maintaining a healthy blood pressure; eating a healthy, low-fat diet; maintaining a healthy weight; regular exercise; and to refrain from or stop smoking.2 It is well worth noting that all of these modifiable conditions and behaviors are ones that affect the cardiovascular system and blood flow to the brain. 

#VascularDementia #MultiInfarct #KnowDementia

Janet Yagoda Shagam, PhD, is a freelance medical and science writer and the author of  “An Unintended Journey: A Caregiver's Guide to Dementia.” Available through Amazon.

The opinions expressed by contributing authors are not necessarily the opinions of the Dementia Society, Inc. We do not endorse nor guarantee products, comments, suggestions, links, or other forms of content contained within blog posts - that have been provided to us with permission, or otherwise. Dementia Society does not provide medical advice. Please consult your doctor.  

References

Source 1, accessed March 4, 2016

Source 2, accessed March 4, 2016